Sample-dispenser.



L. J. FAIRBANKS.

SAMPLE DISPENSER.

APPLICATION FILED MMLS. 19H.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WLT NESS ELEV IS ATTORNEY L. J. FAIRBANKS.

SAMPLE DISPENSER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3.1917. 1,281,92. Patent-ed Oct. 15, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEE1 2.

HISATTURNEY "run snares PATNT onnron.

LUKE J. FAIRBANKS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORL TIA.

SAMPLE-DISPENSER.

Application filed March 3, 1917.

a sample dispenser suitable for the use of grocery salesmen, canvassers and the like, for the display and dispensing of wares such as semi-liquids, pickles, the contents of canned goods, and in fact, all goods of such nature as would otherwise be diflicult of display and sampling. In ordinary practice when a grocery salesman attempts to make a sale of a particular brand of canned goods, for instance, it is necessary that on starting out on his .route he provide himself with as many cans as there are customers to be called on, because a can must be opened so that the contents thereof may be exhibited to a prospective customer in an attractive manner. After so exhibiting the contents of the can such can cannot ordinarily be carried and exhibited to the secdnd customer and itis therefore the object of this invention to provide means whereby a single can of goods will, suflice for perhaps a days canvass and whereby such goods may be displayed in an attractive and sanitary manner.

In accordance with the invention a sample dlspenser, container or case adapted to contain goods of the general nature stated and in which such goods may be properly displayed and samples thereofiremoved is provided; such dispenser preferably consists of a flat box-like containing member provided with a removable closure adapted to be sealed against such containing member, a

flange portion being provided on said boxlfke. member between which and the closure member a sealing element may be disposed. The closure is preferably of arched formation and is held against the containing member to seal the same thereto, preferably by means of a bolt or clamp co-acting with said containing member. The bolt preferably passes'centrally through the lid or closure and is provided with a hand grip or thumb piece whereby the parts may be drawn together and in sealed relation. A hook or Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 15, 1918.

Serial No. 152,201.

catch is preferably provided at one end of the containing member, such hook being adapted to support the removable closure in vertical position when the containing member 1's horizontally held or placed to display the goods or wares therein.

The invention has for a further object to provide an improved dispenser of the gen eral character stated in which utility is combined with attractiveness, which is susceptible of adaptation to a wide range of uses 'and services, which may be readily carried in a pocket, as a coat pocket of a salesman and without danger of leakage of contents, and which will be superior in point of relative simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction and organization, combined with efiectiveness in operation and use and durability and compactness ofform.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel provision, formation, association and relative arrangement and inter-relation of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described,

shown in the drawing, and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of a sample dispenser constructed and organized in accord ance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view taken oh the line m fx Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows, the position assumed by the closure member when the container member is horizontally disposed and the goods are to be displayed, being indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken on the line m m Fig; 1, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows, the view being taken on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged: fragmentary view showing the closure member in engagement with the hook whereby the same may be maintained in vertical position;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form v of sample dispenser; D Fig. 6 is a central longitudlnal sectional rows; and Y Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line w -w Fig. 5, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows.

The parts in the several figures are designated by reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, A designates a box-like sample containing member, B designates a closure member therefor, G designates sealing means, D designates means for securing the closure member B to the containing member A, and E designates means whereby the closure may be supported in vertical position when the containing member is horizontally disposed and in position to exhibit wares contained therein.

The box-likebody or containing member A- may conveniently be formed of sheet metal or other material, and preferably comprises end walls 5 and 6, side walls 7 and 8, and a bottom wall 9. The container is shown as rectangular in form and the portion A is preferably provided with an inwardly extending ledge 10. The-portion A is preferably reinforced transversely at the bottom by an integral rib 11.

The closure member B is shown as having a top wall12, and walls 13 and 14 downwardly sloping for a portion of their length, and side walls 15 and 16 which likewise slope downwardly from the top wall 12 thus forming a closure of arch-like form, and provid' ing for great strength and permitting the application of considerable pressure on the closure by the securing meansD when the closure and box-like body portion are to be united. The closure B is provided with a transverse rib at its top wall as at 17 whereby the strength of the closure is further increased. At the marginal edges the closure is provided with a horizontaldownwardly facing flat ledge portion 18 and inwardly of such ledge portion with a depending flange or shield portion 19. Such marginal portions co-act with the ledge 10 of the portion A in clamping between the same a preferably rubber sealing gasket or band 20 constituting the means C and normally being confined between the ledge 10, the side and end walls of the portion A, the surface 18 and the flange 19. The surface 18 may be formed with a downwardly depending preferably narrow rib 21 extending completely around the closure at its marginal edges and adapted to be pressed into the sealing gasket.

The securing means D preferably comprises a bolt 22 passed through a central orifice 23 provided in the ,closure wall 12 and through the rib 17, a fixed nut 24 springing from the rib 11 of the body portion A, and a sealing gasket or washer 25 interposed between the head or thumb-piece 26 of the nut and the external surface of the wall 12. A washer 27 is preferably provided between the thumb-piece 26 and the sealing washer 25. The bolt 22 is threaded at its lower end as at 28, and has preferably its end rounded off as at 29. A removable pin 30 is passed through an aperture at 31 in the bolt to maintain the same in assemblage with the cover or closure portion B. The nut 24 is preferably formed at the end of a lug or projection 32 rising from the rib 11 in the portion A and such nut is provided with a conical depression 33 leading to an internally threaded portion 34, to the end that the end 29 ofthe bolt 22"may readily be entered into the nut and the threads caused to engage, it being understood that the nut is preferably disposed at the bottom of the containing member and submerged in the liquid or semi-liquid or other goods to be displayed or sampled. The projection 32 is undercut as at 35 to permit the discharge of contained wares from the internal portion of the nut upon the entrance of the threaded end of the bolt into the nut.

The holding means E is shown as a preferably metallic hook 36 springing from the flange 10 at the end wall 6 of'the containing member A and extending into such containing member with the upper portion of the hook lying preferably in a horizontal plane as at 37. The flange 19 of the closure member may be readily engaged with the hook as shown in Fig. 4 and the closure, by being tilted at an angle supported by such hook.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, the sample dispenser is shown as comprising a box-like body F provided with a closure G, sealing means H, and securing means 1 whereby the closure and containing member may be sealed against each other, means E similar to the means E described in connection with the other figures being provided and whereby the closure may be supported in vertical position when the container is horizontally disposed and in position to exhibit wares contained therein.

The box-like body or containing member F may be formed of sheet metal or other suitable material, and preferably comprises end walls 39 and 40, side walls 41 and 42, and a bottom wall 43. The container is shown as'rectangular in form and the con-. taining member F is preferably provided with an inwardly extending ledge 44 which is upturned as at 45 to accommodate a packing gasket 46 constituting the sealing means H and which gasket extends entirely around the interior edge portion of the containing member F. Beneath the ledge or flange 44 and at opposite points at the side walls 41 and 42, are-disposed a pair of depending stops 47 adapted for co-action with the securing means I.

The closure member G is shown as having 5 a top wall 48, end walls 49 and 50. downa re-inforcement to permit of the application of considerable pressure to the closure by the securing means I. The marginal edge 54 of the closure is adapted to seat upon the gasket 46, and, to provide for perfect sealing together of the closure and the container portion or member, such marginal portion 54 is provided with a downwardly directed rib 55 which is adapted to take into the gasket 46.

Securing means I is shown as comprising a stud bolt 56 secured to or having integrally formed therewith a latch bar 57, one arm 57 of which is adapted to take under the ledge or flange 44 of the containing mem ber F at one side of said containing member, and the other arm 57* of which is adapted to take under the ledge 44 at the opposite side of the containin member F. The latch bar 57 is normally dlsposed within the container or dispenser and the stud bolt 56 projects through a central orifice 58 provided in the closure member G. A packing washer 59 surrounds the stud bolt 56 and a clamping washer 60 likewise surrounds the stud bolt 56. The bolt 56 is threaded exteriorly of the dispenser and has fitted thereon an internally threaded thumb nut or grip 61. The end of the stud bolt 56 may be provided with anotch or groove 62 whereby the position of the latch bar may be indicated.

The holding means E is shown as a hook 62 springing from the flange 44 at the end wall 40 of the containing member, such hook 62 having a bent-over portion 63 beneath which the marginal edge 54 of the closure G may be caught to maintain the same in vertical position.

The method of use and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing disclosure taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and the following statement:

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the containing member A may be filled with the wares to be displayed, such as for instance, the contents of a can, and the closure placed in position and upon rotation of the bolt 22 through its thumb-piece 26 the parts may be firmly bound together bringing the right degree of pressure to bear on the sealing gasket 20. The arch-like construction of the closure member and the direct'central pull of the bolt, it has been demonstrated in practice, permit of so tightly drawing the parts together that leakage is impossible and the sample dispenser may be carried on end in a coat pocket or in any other position desired.

sure in position.

When the wares are to be displayed all that is necessary is to unscrew the bolt through its thumb-piece 26 and lift the closure ofl', whereupon a large surface of the goods is exposed to view and the same may besampled and the general appearance noted. The closure may if desired be placed in the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 and any drainage from the marginal edges thereof will be into the containing portion. It is manifest that a salesman will be permitted to place a dispenser organized in accordance with the invention on the show cases or other fixtures of his customer to exhibit his wares, whereas by other methods such as the opening of cans and the possible slopping over of the contents, he might be barred from so displaying his samples.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, the containing member F is filled with wares to be displayed and the closure placed thereon with the latch bar 57 in the position indicated in the oblique dotted lines in Fig. 5, after which upon the turning of the thumb nut or grip 61 to the right, the latch bar 57 will be moved to its position shown in transverse dotted lines in Fig. 5 with its ends 57 and 57 under the ledge 44 and in contact with the stops 47; upon further rotation of the grip toward the right or in proper direction to tighten the latch bar against the ledge, the grip will rotate on the stud bolt 56 tightly binding the closure G to the containing member F. The washer 59 prevents leakage through the orifice 58 and the marginal edge of the closure Gr being tightly pressed into the sealing means H the container may be carried on end or in any other position without fear of leakage of the contents. The notch 62'will indicate the position on the latch bar, and when it is desired to open the dispenser it may be placed in horizontal position and the grip 61 unscrewed, which unscrewing will release the latch bar 57 and such latch bar will follow the direction of motion of the grip 61 and as soon as the indicating notch (shows that the latch bar is moved from under the ledge 44 the cover may be lifted and the wares exposed to view.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A sample dispenser comprising a container open upon its upper side, a closure for said container, sealing means between the container and closure, a flange upon the container supporting the sealing means, and re silient means coiiperating with said flange and the closure to yieldingly hold the clo- 2. A sample dispenser comprising a container open upon its upper side, a closure for said container, said container beingpro- I vided with an inwardly projecting portion,

menace a sealing means mounted upon the inwardly projecting portion and adapted to be interposed between the closure and container, :1 spring metal latch carried by the closure and adapted to engage under the inwardly projecting portion on the container so as to yieldingly hold the closure in place, and means acting as a handle upon theouter side of said closure cooperating with said latch to regulate the degree of tightness with which the closure is held in place.

3. A sample dispenser comprising a container open upon its upper side, a flange upon the container at the open upper side thereof, a closure for said container resting upon the flange, a spring metal bar carried by the closure upon the inner side thereof and adapted to engage under the flange to yieldingly hold the closure in place, and means exteriorly of the closure and connected with the bar for regulating the degree of tightness with which the closure is held in place, there being sealing means interposed between the flange and closure.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' LUKE J. FAIRBANKS.

Witnesses:

ALFRED H. DAErmnR, C. L. BAGLEY. 

